Boy abandoned in Japan dense forest for being naughty found alive, unscathed

Tokyo: A Japanese boy abandoned in a dense forest by his parents for being naughty was found alive and unharmed today, nearly a week after his disappearance set off a massive search that kept the nation riveted.

Seven-year-old Yamato Tanooka was discovered in a building on a Japanese military base around 4 km (2.5 miles) from where he disappeared last Saturday after his parents left him by the side of a road, reportedly as discipline for throwing stones at cars.

"One of our soldiers was preparing for drills this morning and unlocked the door of a building on the base, and there he was," a member of Japan's Self-Defence Forces told a national television.

"When he asked 'are you Yamato?' the boy said yes. Then he said he was hungry, so the soldier gave him some water, bread and riceballs." Yamato was taken to hospital for checks but no further information was immediately available.